LONGMONT -- It is back to school for firefighters this month as they visit all of Longmont's elementary schools to teach fire prevention lessons as only they can -- with fire hoses, the kinds of uniforms that fascinate kids, and, of course sirens.

Fire Prevention Week runs from Oct. 7 through Oct. 11 and firefighters are scheduled to appear in Longmont kindergarten and first-grade classrooms through Friday.

Kindergartners get to familiarize themselves with fire services through the lessons. They get a tour of a fire engine, get to see a firefighter in uniform, and get a souvenir fire hat to take home, according to public safety outreach manager Kay Armstrong. The lessons for first-graders include fire prevention, the stop-drop-and-roll rule, and development of a family escape plan, she said. The first-graders get pencils to keep.

"They all want to be firefighters, which is great," she said. "We are going to need lots of new, strong, smart, brave firefighters."

She added that the first-graders tend to take the lessons to heart and head home to share with their families.

"They take it as their responsibility and go home and teach," she said.